Where to Travel

The Auckland War Memorial Museum is part of the Auckland Museum, the most distinct and exquisite museum in New Zealand. It combines both a museum with a site of commemoration for the New Zealanders who have perished at war.

It covers several periods of history during which New Zealand played an important part, including both World War I and World War II, as well as civil wars and Asian conflicts. This museum tells the history of all these conflicts from New Zealand’s point of view.

It consists of two galleries (Holocaust Gallery and Colours Gallery), the World War I Sanctuary, the World War II Hall Of Memories and a permanent exhibition entitled Scars on the Heart. The galleries as well as the War Memorials are located on the top floor of the Museum.

One of the two galleries focuses on the Holocaust. It describes the horrors that around 6 million Jews underwent under the reign of the Nazi in Europe. The other gallery called “Colours Gallery” commemorates the loss of New Zealanders during World War I.

The galleries display a great number of photographs, items including personal belongings such as letters and diaries, as well as two iconic aeroplanes from World War II, the Zero and the Spitfire.

Scars On The Heart is a permanent exhibition which covers several historical periods, including the New Zealand civil wars, the Anglo-Boer War, both World Wars, Asian conflicts and peacemaking missions in which the country took part.

The World War I Sanctuary and the World War II Hall Of Memories are where the names of the New Zealanders who lost their lives during these conflicts are inscribed. Many people do not know at all the role that New Zealand played during World War I and World War II.

For instance the country’s population at the time of World War I was of only about 1 million people and over 18,160 New Zealanders died. New Zealand tis he nation which sent the most men to war per head of population.

Because most bodies were never returned to New Zealand during these conflicts, the War Memorials were built in order to offer some comfort to the families of the dead soldiers, to give them a place to grieve.

The Auckland War Memorial Museum is also home to an armoury where a large collection of arms are displayed, and where you also have access to a database of the dead soldiers and the country’s military activities during war periods.

The Auckland War Memorial Museum holds several exhibitions and events all year long, which are organised on anniversaries as well as around key actors and figures. The main commemoration which is organised at the Museum is Anzac Day.

Every year, on April 25th, the Auckland War Memorial Museum celebrates the commemoration of Anzac Day. This day of remembrance is celebrated in both Australia and New Zealand. At first during Anzac day, both populations honoured the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought during WW1 and died in Gallipoli in Turkey, occasion during which over 8, 700 troops from Australia and over 2, 700 from New Zealand died.

Today Anzac Day commemorates all the people who have lost their lives and served in the military forces for their country. The commemoration at the museum takes place at the Cenotaph and the consecrated ground situated right in front of the museum.